No. IV. PENSIONS AND GRATUITIES. Morrison Underwood, late sheriff Westmoreland 11 29 Amount of pensions & gratuities by special David Laufman, deputy sheriff of Franklin co. $64 72 do. Adams 105 41 Schuylkill 52 61 do. Franklin 85 97 John Hipple, sheriff Perry 42 90 48 37 No. V. Dickinson college, Deaf and Dumb institution Allegheny college 3,000 00 James Vanstavern and William Dubree 61 90 6,302 48 William Jaggers 38 00 1,000 00 George Eichelberger 54 03 Smethsport academy 2,000 00 John Broomhall 60 50 16,702 48 287 58 No. VI. INTEREST ON LOANS, The bank of Pennsylvania and others, on John S. Henry, treasurer of the House of 2,500 00 46,500 00 30,000 00 No. XV. 7,500 00 7,725 00 William Shannon, notifying presidential electors 38 00 1,037 65 91,725 00 George S. Eisenhart, information relative to unpatented lands in Lehigh county 1,138 50 Daniel Small do York 1,617 50 INTERNAL IMPROVEMENT Dividends on bridge and turnpike stock Collateral inheritances, FUND. James Mathers do Mifflin 1,043 00 $80,000 00 James Black 58,375 00 James O'Conner, 81 00 1,026 00 19,640.00 Matthias S. Richards 3,217 50 do Chester Escheats 29 99 Robert Beatty do Allegheny 158 50 1,359 50 Henry Davis 168,787 18 Samuel L. Carpenter do Beaver do Westmoreland 16 00 2,299 50 201 00 69 00 for the purpose, of 300,000 dollars. To this sum the le- The whole distance of the Pennsylvania canal, au- 29 26 From the mouth of the Juniata to Smith's mills, 17 86 From Middletown to Muncy hills, upon the west 26 50 22 40 From Northumberland up the North branch of Miles. 90 100 55 89 75 60 8 74 From Bemus' mill, on French creek, to Muddy 191 Of this distance 195 miles are navigable, viz: 45 24 Adam H. Orth, compiling a digest of road Henry Daub, treasurer of Montgomery co. over-payment on his acc't of retailer's licenses James Loudon, stock books for state treasury Bostwick Noble and Samuel L. Woods, ap- A great portion of the remaining 2334 miles is nearly The sum required to pay the debts due upon The amount already expended, is The cost of this immense public work, will be found, CANAL COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. The act to provide for the commencement of a canal, When the connexion between the eastern and west- 1829.] REPORT OF CANAL COMMISSIONERS. Muddy run, 193 miles, including 3,800 of forty miles having been placed un- The Erie canal, extending from Albany to Buffaloe, 363 miles, yielded toll in the year 1828, to an amount upwards of 2,000 dollars per mile. Now, if the New-Pennsylvania rail way, the road formation York canal, before its advantages can be said to be fully developed, yielded in one season upwards of 2,000 dollars per mile, what will be the amount of toll upon the Pennsylvania canal, where, in addition to all the tonnage which can seek a market in the state of New York, we have iron to an immense amount, and coal, which alone, surpasses all calculation? The late board paid under the act of 24th 413 209,603 72 50,000 00 19,757 23 2,000 00 5,990 00 $6,300,000 00 To which sum must be added, the late loans made 45,000 25,000 North Branch division, 10,000 Susquehanna division, 20,000 6,000 $106,000 French creek feeder, But the advantages of this great public work, are not to be measured by the interest it will yield upon the money expended; it adds an intrinsic and permanent value to the commonwealth, independently of the profits arising from tolls. Facts existing in our own state, abundantly prove, that the additional value of the territory bordering upon canals, more than equals the whole amount expended in their construction. It is believed, and the belief rests upon practical results, that the owners of the soil in Schuylkill county, before the canal to Philadelphia was made, would have advanced their private interest by making the improvement at their own expense; the additional value to their lands arising from the canal, would have exceeded in amount the whole cost. If we apply such facts to the Pennsylvania canal when extended through the inexhaustible anthracite coal fields of the North Branch; the iron and bituminous coal region of the Juniata and West Branch, to the Pennsylvania salt works, and affording facilities for the transportation to Philadelphia, of the immense coal tonnage of the Lehigh and other branches of the Delaware, and opening avenues for the commerce of the rich vallies of the Ohio, the Mississippi, and the extensive regions bordering upon the lakes of the north and north west, independently of the manufactures and agricultu- Juniata Division: ral products which every where surround this improvement, the certain result, while it must flatter the pride, will multiply the wealth, strengthen the physical force and increase the moral influence of the state. With these views in relation to the subject, the board Eastern, Susquehanna and West Branch Divisions: can have no hesitation in recommending the vigorous prosecution of the great system of improvement, as heretofore marked out by the Legislature; a system perhaps as perfect as could be projected, to develope and bring into activity the resources of the state, and to unite every section of this great commonwealth in one common bond of interest and of feeling. Delaware Division: Debts due Amount of certificates issued 140,340 99 351,280 91 148,664 66 40,676 93 141,353 11 From Middletown to Muncy bills, upon From Bemus' mill on French creek, to 1,944,302 18 North Branch Division: Debts due Amount of certificates issued Amount of certificates issued Estimated cost of work to be done upon contract From this review and estimate, it appears that there is now due upon the several divisions of the Pennsylvania canal under contract, the sum of $1,399,790 67, for $845,410 64 of which certificates have been issued. That the amount of work to be done upon the several divisions of the canal and rail road, now under contract and 476,338 92 | in progress of completion, as estimated by the principal engineers, is $2,060,742 394. The nature of these demands upon the commonwealth, requires that they should be promptly liquidated. A moments reflection will show 425,265 53 that unrewarded labour, to so large an amount as is now due, brings upon the enterprizing contractor inevitable ruin, and deprives, particularly at this season of the year, a valuable portion of the community of their only means of subsistence. there is at various points, and particularly at and near the feeder dams, a very large amount of surplus water, which might be advantageously applied to hydraulic purposes: as no adequate provision has been made for the sale of such surplus water, and as it is believed that a very considerable revenue may be annually derived from this source, the expediency and propriety of making provision for the sale of hydraulic privileges, is most respectfully suggested. Owing to the delays and interruptions incident to a work of this magnitude, the finished portions of the canal were not prepared for navigation until late in the season; by letting in the water the work was tested, and the weak points were ascertained; the work generally has fully answered the expectations of the board. Repairs in many instances have been made, and every precaution The present canal commissioners met, in pursuance has been taken by the respective acting commissioners of the act by which they were appointed, on the first and superintendents, to guard against accidents, and se- | day of June, 1829. David Scott was appointed presicure the permanency and usefulness of the canal. Small dent, and Francis R. Shunk, secretary. sums have been received as toll upon the western and For the measures adopted by the board upon its oreastern divisions. The navigation has hitherto been ganization, in the appointment of acting commissioners more a matter of experiment than a regular business,but and superintendents, upon the several divisions of the it has confirmed the opinion entertained of the ultimate canal and rail-road, the appointment of principal engivalue and utility of this great public work. It is believ-neers, and the arrangement of their different corps, and ed the amount of tolls which will be received within the the fixing the compensation of the various officers, aensuing year, on the divisions of the canal now naviga- gents and persons employed in the service of the state, ble, may be fairly estimated as follows: reference is made to the journal of the board which accompanies this report, as required by law. On the Western division, Juniata division, Eastern division, Susquehanna division, including the $30,000 12,000 $65,000 The powers which the canal commissioners now possess, are limited to a general superintendency, management and direction, in the location and construction of canals and rail roads; the appointment of officers and agents for that purpose, and the adjustment of claims | for damages, &c. and when any part of the Pennsylvania canal shall be finished and in a state of navigation, they may appoint collectors of tolls and fix their location, and order and direct the rates of toll. It will be apparent, that with such limited powers, it is impossible for the board to adopt any code of rules and regulations applicable to the complicated and various transactions connected with the navigation of the canal and the collection of tolls. A rule or regulation which cannot be enforced is worse than useless. The board have no power to enforce any regulation by penal sanctions. Near 290 miles of the canal will be navigable at the commencement of the next season, and the greatest part of that contracted for, will be navigable during the next summer, if means are provided to carry on the work. Hence the legislature will perceive the necessity of adopting a system of regulations and penalties, concerning the navigation of the canal and the collection of toll; the views of the board upon this subject are expressed in a system of rules accompanying this report. The provisions in relation to damages, require legislative revision. As the law now stands, the feelings and prejudices of the country through which the improvements pass, too often constitute the only standard by which damages are measured, a standard uncertain and unequal, as it relates to individuals concerned, and frequently unjust as it regards the commonwealth. It is respectfully recommended to the legislature, to provide for the appointment of appraisers by the executive, who shall receive and decide upon all applications for damages done to real property, in consequence of the construction of the Pennsylvania canal or rail-road, and who shall in their estimate, take into consideration the advantages and disadvantages of such improvements to the whole real estate of the individual claiming damages, wherever situated, with the right of appealing to either party to the supreme or circuit court. Upon nearly all the divisions of canal, it is believed The balance of appropriation for canal and rail-road purposes, made by the legislature, at the last session, and not expended by the late board, was found to be $1,407,704 30, which sum was received by the present board and its agents, during the past season, in the fol lowing proportions. James S. Stevenson, upon the Western James Clarke, Juniata division, John Forrey, Jr. Eastern division, Thomas G. Kennedy, Delaware division, $214,305 99 305,336 40 163,282 32 232,175 14 206,338 92 189,265 53 45,000 00 50,000 00 2,000 00 1,407,704 30 As a material portion of this sum was applied to the payment of debts then due, the balance was found to be entirely insufficient to enable the board to meet the expectations of the legislature, in prosecuting the public works during the season, as required by the provisions of the act of the 22d of April last. On the fifth of July, the president of the board received a communication from Messrs. Blythe and Mahon, members of the board of internal improvement, informing him that the board had no funds at their dispo sal, for canal and rail road purposes, and that demands to a considerable amount had been presented by the acting canal commissioners and superintendents, which had not been met, for want of funds. In pursuance of this information, the president convened the board of canal commissioners on the 23d of July. As temporary loans had been obtained to meet the demands upon the treasury, prior to the meeting, and as the board then had reason to believe that no material embarrassment in the prosecution of the public works would be experi enced, whilst any portion of the sum appropriated for that purpose remained unexpended, they urged the sev eral acting commissioners & superintendents to employ such funds as would secure the most exposed portions of the public works, and bring early into operation the divis ions of canal which were nearly completed. At a meeting in October, it was found that the funds appropriated for canal and rail road purposes, hadfor some time, been insufficient to meet the sums due mont ly by the commonwealth, to contractors, and that the ac ting commissioners and superintendents were under the necessity of granting certificates to such contractars, as evidence of the amount due to them respectively. At this trying period, the board anxiously solicitous to preserve the public works, to save the meritorious contrac 1829.] CANAL COMMISSIONERS' REPORT. tors from inevitable ruin, & to promote the best interests of the commonwealth, recommended to the respective acting commissioners and superintendents, to prosecute the works upon their respective lines, without remission, and to continue until the meeting of the legislature, on the first Tuesday in December,to make the usual monthly estimates, and to give to each contractor, or person entitled to receive payment, a certificate of the amount due such person. The certificates, a form of which was prescribed, to be signed by the acting commissioners and superintendents, and countersigned by the clerks upon the respective divisions. These measures had a tendency to lessen the evil consequent upon a deficiency of funds, and have enabled the board to continue the prosecution of the public works, up to the present peri od, without any material remission. For the redemption of these certificates, at the earliest possible moment, the most confident reliance is placed upon the justice of the legislature,in providing the requisite means; and as no acting commissioner or superintendent, can, under the existing laws,draw from the treasury more than 50,000 dollars at any one time, it is respectfully submitted, whether the interests of all concerned, will not require additional facilities for the prompt redemption of such certificates, upon the different divisions, whenever the necessary funds shall be provided. As some of the divisions of the canal are so situated as to require immediate funds for the preservation of the works, and for guarding against the disastrous consequences of the frost and floods of the approaching seas- | on, and as there was reason to believe that sums adequate to the emergency, might be obtained from monied institutions or individuals friendly to the internal improvement of the state, on condition that the same should be expended upon divisions designated, the constituted authorities were requested by the board to negotiate such loans, to a limited amount. The Governor accordingly obtained the sum of 106,000 dollars, which was distributed as has been stated in another part of this report. The portage rail road across the Allegheny mountain, was included by the board, in the superintendency of the western division, and Moncure Robison, who had been appointed the engineer in December last, was continued by the present board, for the purpose of completing his examinations and estimates upon this important public work. His report is herewith submitted. It will be seen that Mr. Robison proposes passing the summit by a tunnel of one mile in length, and overcoming the elevation by five lifts, and five levels on each side. The portage, according to this location, is 38 miles and 51 poles in length, and its complete execution upon his plan is estimated at $936,004 87. The best means of effecting this connexion between the eastern and western waters, is a subject of great magnitude; for, independently of other considerations, upon it depends the successful competition of the Pennsylvania canal with other avenues, for the trade of the western states to the Atlantic. The board in employing Mr. Robison upon this work, secured the services of an engineer of the first order. They required from him every kind of information necessary to a judicious selection of the best means of effecting this connexion. His report justifies the high opinion which was entertained of his talents and professional skill, and gives clear and comprehensive views of the subject. 415 ern side of the river Schuylkill, to a point near Fairmount In pursuance of this resolution, the board directed the engineer upon the North Branch division, to make an estimate of the cost of the road adjoining the 88th and 89th sections. The estimate was made, and amounted to $5,526; a proposition however was received by the acting commissioners from a contractor, for making the road for the sum of $4,850. As neither came within the limits prescribed in the resolution, the board took no further orders on the subject. By the 2d section of the act of the 16th of April, 1829, relative to the appointment of canal commissioners, the board is required to appoint an engineer-in-chief of the commonwealth and superintendent of the surveys. This important duty engaged the early attention of the board, at their first meeting. The difficulty of making a judicious selection at this period of the progress of the public works, and the dangerous consequences of making an injudicious one, are obvious. In addition to the great experience and professional skill for which this officer should be distinguished, he must have the faculty of drawing to himself powers which have been hitherto exercised by the principal engineers upon their respective divisions, without disturbing the harmony of the system; of making an innovation upon settled rules, without producing confusion. For the purpose of obtaining the necessary information in order to proceed to a choice, the board directed the president to communicate upon the subject, with such persons as he might deem proper, and report the result of his correspondence. Two reports have been made by the president, in pursuance of this direction, but the information received has not yet enabled the board to make a selection. By the second section of the act of the 22d April,1829, it is made the duty of the canal commissioners to locate the route of a suitable navigation, either by canal, or by canal and slack water, between the city of Pittsburg, or the mouth of the Kiskeminetas,and the borough of Erie, within the present year. With a view to this location, the board, at their meeting in June, directed James Ferguson and Moncure Robison, two of the principal engi neers in the employment of the board, to explore and select the best summit, for a connexion of the waters of the Conneaut lake and those of lake Erie. Owing to the engagements of Mr. Robinson, upon the rail-road across the Allegheny mountain, he was afterwards excused from the performance of this duty; and the explorations were made by Mr. Ferguson, who made report to the board in October. At the same time, petitions were presented from a very respectable number of citizens, residing in the counties bordering on the waters of the Allegheny river and French creek, stating that the questions arising out of the conflicting claims of the Allegheny & French At the meeting of the board in July, Maj. D. B. Dou glas, who is known in this commonwealth as a highly respectable engineer, was appointed to make the surveys and estimates of the eastern termination of the Pennsyl-creek, and Beaver and Shenango routes, involved impor vania rail-road, required by a resolution of the legislature tant interests, as well as the constitutional rights of the of the 20th April last. His report and estimates upon petitioners, should a location be made by which the wathe various routes, accompany this report. From all the ters of French creek would be diverted from their natu facts laid before the board, they are of the opinion, that ral course. They prayed for the postponement of the it is not the interest of the state now to construct more location until after the next meeting of the legislature, than one line of rail road from the inclined plane, near for the purpose of having an opportunity to ascertain imthe farm of the late Judge Peters, and they recommend portant facts, necessary to insure a decision in favour of the extension of the line from that point down the west | the Allegheny and French creck route. The board, up |